Does APS-C have lower resolution? at DVinfo.net

Charles House · April 5th, 2012, 01:27 PM

I just wondered, because of the crop factor, does the Canon have a lower resolution than the 5D? It makes sense to me that, by "zooming" in on the image of the mirror 1.6x, it'd have less definition.

Laurence Kingston · April 5th, 2012, 01:54 PM

Resolution is the same.

Murray Christian · April 5th, 2012, 02:06 PM

I think you're mixing a few things up there.
There is probably some relationship between resolution and sensor size. But in the sense I think you're talking about there isn't a direct relationship. If an APS-C size sensor has a lower resolution than the 5D it's because the sensor itself has fewer pixels. It's not necessarily related to size.

The crop factor is not a case of zooming in as such, but a way of accounting for the sensor's smaller field of view. Most of the way we comprehend the focal length of a lens is in relation to a 35mm image. When people think of, say, a 50mm lens they have an idea what sort of field of view you are going to get from that already. But that is only true on a 35mm camera. Canon APS-C is, I think, about 22mm. So using a 50mm lens on that will have a smaller field of view than it would on a 35mm. The ratio of 1.6 tells you roughly which focal length would achieve the same field of view on a 35mm camera (so a 50mm lens on an APS-C has roughly the same field of view as an 80mm focal length on a 35mm camera).

Hopefully that makes sense. Clever people will surely be along soon to point out where my terminology is messed up.

April 5th, 2012, 01:27 PM	#1
Charles House Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Shepherdstown, WV Posts: 30	Does APS-C have lower resolution? I just wondered, because of the crop factor, does the Canon have a lower resolution than the 5D? It makes sense to me that, by "zooming" in on the image of the mirror 1.6x, it'd have less definition.

April 5th, 2012, 01:54 PM	#2
Laurence Kingston Major Player Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Clermont, FL. Posts: 941	re: Does APS-C have lower resolution? Resolution is the same.

April 5th, 2012, 02:06 PM	#3
Murray Christian Major Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 240	re: Does APS-C have lower resolution? I think you're mixing a few things up there. There is probably some relationship between resolution and sensor size. But in the sense I think you're talking about there isn't a direct relationship. If an APS-C size sensor has a lower resolution than the 5D it's because the sensor itself has fewer pixels. It's not necessarily related to size. The crop factor is not a case of zooming in as such, but a way of accounting for the sensor's smaller field of view. Most of the way we comprehend the focal length of a lens is in relation to a 35mm image. When people think of, say, a 50mm lens they have an idea what sort of field of view you are going to get from that already. But that is only true on a 35mm camera. Canon APS-C is, I think, about 22mm. So using a 50mm lens on that will have a smaller field of view than it would on a 35mm. The ratio of 1.6 tells you roughly which focal length would achieve the same field of view on a 35mm camera (so a 50mm lens on an APS-C has roughly the same field of view as an 80mm focal length on a 35mm camera). Hopefully that makes sense. Clever people will surely be along soon to point out where my terminology is messed up.